Midwife 'Used Spoon To Induce Mum'

The Mail reports that midwife Patience Adams made the decision to use the piece of plastic cutlery to speed up her patient's delivery.

The panel was told that there were no complications with the woman's labour, and that the midwife used the spoon without the mum's consent at King's College Hospital NHS Trust.

Charlotte Eadie, for the Nursing and Midwifery Council, said the patient, a Mandarin speaker with little English, was communicating with the midwife through her husband.

"In an interview meeting she (Adams) said she had no difficulty communicating with patient A and that her husband was translating," Ms Eadie said. "At times she had to use sign language."

Adams was said to have tried to induce the woman's labour at around 12.30am on 8 May 2011.

"An artificial rupture of membranes was carried out, this was despite the fact that labour was normal and there was no concerns regarding the welfare of the child," Ms Eadie said.

Another midwife, Alison Taylor, who was also present at some stages throughout the woman's labour, was said to be 'concerned'.

Adams had allegedly asked Miss Taylor to fetch a type of needle which would never be used for inducing a birth. Adams reportedly unsheathed it and began to start an internal procedure.

Alison Taylor asked Adams why she was not using her fingers for the procedure and offered to call in another midwife.

"The registrant re-sheathed the needle and handed it back to Miss Taylor who then disposed of it," said Ms Eadie, adding that Miss Taylor was then called away and when she came back around ten to 15 minutes later 'observed the registrant coming out of the kitchen with a plastic spoon'.

Ms Eadie told the hearing that the cutlery 'presented a risk of infection for using a non sterile object and a risk to the child due to the sharp end.'

Adams admits she did not offer the mum access to a translator, and that she used a plastic spoon to perform the artificial rupture of membranes.

She also admits that she did not record foetal observations, including the heart rate and summary of care and that she carried out two internal examinations without medical reason for doing so.

She denies attempting to use a needle to perform the artificial rupture of membranes and that she performed the procedure without discussing it with the patient or getting her consent.